Online Reporter
Blessing Malinganiza
Zimpapers Sports Hub
DYNAMOS intend to fill all eight foreign-player slots allowed under the revised Premier Soccer League regulations, executive chairman Vincent Chawonza has said.
Chawonza was responding to a former Dynamos great who warned that the club risked losing its traditional development identity after using seven foreign players in their 1-0 defeat to Chicken Inn.
Goalkeeper Idrissou Finia Nfor, Christopher Nettey, Isaac Landu, Godknows Dzakpasu, Ben Daouda Sidibe and Frank Agyemang started the match.
Ramela Harerimana became the seventh when he replaced Wisdom Mutasa at half-time.
The defeat, sealed by Joseph Thulani’s long-range strike, ended DeMbare’s 15-match unbeaten league run and left them 11 points behind leaders Scottland with seven matches remaining.
Dynamos coach Aristica Cioba blamed the defeat on fatigue caused by their recent schedule.
“The problem was clear today. Physically, we did not have enough power after the recent games. We need more energy, especially with the number of matches we are playing,” said Cioba.
Dynamos traditionally drew much of their talent from Harare’s high-density suburbs, developing several players who went on to represent Zimbabwe.
The former Dynamos great, who spoke on condition of anonymity, believes the club must retain its connection with the communities that helped build it.
“Dynamos was built by identifying talent in the communities, developing it and giving those players a pathway into the first team. We must not lose that identity,” the legend said.
“Foreign players can add value, but the club must have a clear development system. If you look at the history of Dynamos, some of the greatest players came through the local structures and understood what wearing that jersey meant.”
Chawonza said the increase in the foreign-player quota had given clubs greater freedom when recruiting outside Zimbabwe.
“The PSL regulation on the foreign quota changed this year. We used to register five foreign players and play three per game,” Chawonza said.
“We actually asked them to increase the foreign quota to eight and also allow us to play eight in the same game. We are now allowed to register eight foreign players and play them in the same game.
“When you bring a foreigner, you can’t bring them to sit on the bench. You have to bring foreigners who can actually start games.”
Chawonza said the increase in foreign recruitment was not confined to Dynamos, pointing to Simba Bhora, Scottland, Hardrock, Chicken Inn and MWOS.
“We are looking outside because there is too much recycling of players in the country. You will see one player at Dynamos, next at CAPS United, next at Simba Bhora, and then they come back again,” he said.
“These foreign players will also teach our local players to raise their game. They will give competition to locals to actually up their game. It is skills transfer rather than a recruitment policy where local players are going to be looked down upon.”
Chawonza said the club’s development programme included Under-13, Under-15 and Under-18 teams, as well as a side competing in the Division Two A League.
“We’ve got a very strong junior policy that we are implementing, and we are putting resources there,” he said.
“We have Under-13s, Under-15s and Under-18s. We also have a Division Two club competing in the Division Two A League, so we’ve got a policy to groom young players and young talent.
“These foreigners are not here to take places from local players, but they are here to teach them and bring skills transfer in terms of game approach and other things.”
Chawonza insisted that Cioba selected his team on performance rather than nationality.
“Selection has nothing to do with us recruiting. It is about performance at the training ground. If a player performs well, they start,” he said.
“We don’t deliberately tell the coaches who to start and who not to start, or who to play and who not to play. We register players we think can give us another dimension.
“Remember, we have 30 slots, and eight are for foreign players. The other 22 must perform and get their slots on their own.
“This is never a change in our recruitment policy. We are definitely going to exhaust the slots for the eight-player foreign quota. In the future, and even now, we’ll continue to do so.”
